Duodenal perforation in the pediatric population: two rare cases at a small community hospital.

Duodenal ulcer perforation is very uncommon in the pediatric population; hence, it is usually not considered in the differential diagnosis of acute abdomen in this age group. In our small community hospital, we had two rare cases of perforated peptic ulcer in the pediatric population within a short span of time. A 14-year-old male and a 13-year-old female child presented to the emergency room with acute abdominal pain. No other symptoms were reported and neither had any history of peptic ulcer disease. Abdominal CT showed pneumoperitoneum consistent with perforated hollow viscus. Subsequent exploratory laparotomy indicated perforated duodenal ulcer in both children. These cases illustrate that perforated peptic ulcers should be considered in children presenting with acute abdomen.

Immunocompromised status in patients with necrotizing soft-tissue infection.

IMPORTANCE: There is a scarcity of research on immunocompromised patients with necrotizing soft-tissue infection (NSTI). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of immunocompromised status in patients with NSTI. DESIGN AND SETTING: Single-institution retrospective cohort study at a tertiary academic teaching hospital affiliated with a major cancer center. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with NSTI. EXPOSURE: Treatment at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute between November 25, 1995, and April 25, 2011. MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURE: Necrotizing soft-tissue infection-associated in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Two hundred one patients were diagnosed as having NSTI. Forty-six were immunocompromised (as defined by corticosteroid use, active malignancy, receipt of chemotherapy or radiation therapy, diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus or AIDS, or prior solid organ or bone marrow transplantation with receipt of chronic immunosuppression). At presentation, immunocompromised patients had lower systolic blood pressure (105 vs 112 mm Hg, P = .02), glucose level (124 vs 134 mg/dL, P = .03), and white blood cell count (6600/µL vs 17 200/µL, P < .001) compared with immunocompetent patients. Immunocompromised patients were less likely to have been transferred from another institution (26.1% vs 52.9%, P = .001), admitted to a surgical service (45.7% vs 83.2%, P < .001), or undergone surgical debridement on admission (4.3% vs 61.3%, P = .001). Time to diagnosis and time to first surgical procedure were delayed in immunocompromised patients (P < .001 and P = .001, respectively). Immunocompromised patients had higher NSTI-associated in-hospital mortality (39.1% vs 19.4%, P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: AND RELEVANCE Immunocompromised status in patients with NSTI in this study is associated with delays in diagnosis and surgical treatment and with higher NSTI-associated in-hospital mortality. At presentation, immunocompromised patients may fail to exhibit typical clinical and laboratory signs of NSTI. Physicians caring for similar patient populations should maintain a heightened level of suspicion for NSTI and consider early surgical evaluation and treatment.

In-hospital and long-term outcomes after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in patients with malignancy.

BACKGROUND: Although percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is widely performed for nutrition or palliation, PEG-associated outcomes in cancer patients remain poorly described. We examined the safety and benefits of PEG placement in this population at our institution. STUDY DESIGN: A 5-year retrospective review of patients with malignancy (excluding head/neck and thoracic malignancy) who underwent PEG at our institution was performed. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-nine patients with malignancy underwent PEG; 33.9% had hematologic malignancy, 66.1% had nonhematologic malignancy, and 44.4% had metastatic disease. Indications for PEG were enteral access (73%) and gastric decompression/management of obstructive symptoms (27%). Few patients achieved independence from total parenteral nutrition (22%) or diet advancement (24.6%). Overall rates of major complications (eg, aspiration, tube dislodgement/leakage, bleeding, visceral injury, respiratory failure after procedure, and cardiac arrest) and minor complications (eg, superficial infection and ileus) were 10.2% and 11.3%, respectively. All-cause in-hospital mortality was high (19.6%) and was associated with ICU admission (p = 0.018), earlier bone marrow transplantation (p = 0.022), steroid treatment (p = 0.024), and lower preoperative albumin (p = 0.003). Code status was changed after PEG in 44 patients from full code to DNR/do no intubate or comfort measures only. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy placement in this study population was associated with major procedure-related complications. The majority of patients failed to achieve total parenteral nutrition independence or advancement of diet. Nearly 25% of patients declined aggressive resuscitation strategies after undergoing surgery for PEG. This study cautions to carefully weigh the risks and benefits of PEG placement in this patient population. Prospective studies are needed to uncover factors affecting the decision process and patient selection.